Unesco Sites of Croatia

Travel through Dalmatia and Istria's historical and natural sites

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10 days

from £4,665pp (excluding flights)

This fabulous holiday idea to Croatia is great news for all culture buffs. It is jam packed with seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The main cities of Dubrovnik, Trogir and Split are home to numerous historical complexes. Plitvice Lakes is a truly natural site.

Embark on a cultural discovery of Hvar visiting the Stari Grad Plain

Take a guided walking tours of historic cities of Dubrovnik, Split and Trogir

Spend time at the Cathedral of St James in Sibenik

Follow the boardwalks through Plitvice Lake National Park

Visit the Euphrasian Basilica in Porec

Stay in heritage boutique hotels in the ancient old quarters

Explore the sites accompanied by a private guide, who will ensure history is retold in an intriguing and interesting manner.

On arrival

Upon arrival at Dubrovnik settle in to The Pucic Palace situated on Gundulic square, the heart of the Old Town. Head out the following day for a privately guided walking tour of the beautiful Old Town. Dubrovnik truly is a stunning city with its amazing Old Town, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. Dubrovnik was an important sea power in Europe, and an independent state, from 13th to 18th century. Many Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque houses, palaces, churches, as well as city wall are perfectly preserved.

Hvar

Reaching Hvar by ferry, travel across the island stopping at Ston for the oyster harvesting before arriving in the old town. Stay close to the action with a view of the Cathedral, Arsenal and Venetian piazza, and the yacht harbour and bay as a backdrop. Walk through Hvar town, home to the largest square in all of Dalmatia and the oldest public theatre in Europe, built in 1612. Other treasures in Hvar include the 550-year-old Franciscan Monastery and the Benedictine Convent, where the nuns make fine lace from agave, which is one of four UNESCO heritages on Hvar.

Walk through the ancient pedestrian streets of Stari Grad, with a postcard scene around every corner, and home to the impressive Tvrdalj fortress. The UNESCO theme continues as you travel east to the Stari Grad Plain (also known as Ager or Hora), an 80-hectare agricultural colony founded by the Ancient Greeks in 384 BC. In addition to being the largest cultivated field on the Mediterranean islands, agricultural life has continued uninterrupted since before the birth of Christ - a fascinating example of living heritage. Hvar is home to some fantastic wine growers. Visiting the Dubokovic wine cellar, offers an excellent chance to taste the quality wines and olive oils of the island. Dine in the family’s olive grove with views of the UNESCO protected Stari Grad fields, the oldest continuously cultivated agricultural plain in the world!

Split

When staying in Split you have 1,700 years of Split’s history right on the doorstep. Surrounded by ancient Roman walls and the historical sights of Peristil, Saint Duje Cathedral and the Riva promenade a stone’s throw away. Diocletian's Palace, as the ancient heart of Split, is one of the best-preserved Roman royal residences on the planet.

Combine Split with the UNESCO protected islet town of Trogir. The town is built on a small island and connected by a bridge. The old town is almost intact from the time it was built, back in 13th to 15th century, under Venetian rule. Walk along Trogir’s beautiful narrow streets and travel through time with the stories and legends of the past. Visit the Palace of Cipico, home to one of Trogir’s most prominent families and the Tower of Kamerlengo, which served as the Venetian governor’s palace. Discover the masterpieces of local sculptors and others who participated in creating the magnificent visual history of this charming town.

SIBENIK

Driving between Split and Zadar stop off at the historical city of Sibenik. Visit the famous UNESCO protected cathedral of St. James, considered by many the most beautiful in Croatia.Whilst in Zadar take a walking tour of the Episcopal Complex of Zadar. The Permanent Exhibition of Ecclesiastic Art places Zadar among the great cultural capitals as such a collection of valuable and exquisite religious works of art all in one place can only be seen in the greatest European centers.

Plitvice Lake

The Plitvice lakes, known as the "Falling lakes", have enjoyed the status of a national park since 1949 and since 1979 they have been under the protection of UNESCO. Spend time walking the park before continuing to the Istrian region.

Istria Region

Discover Porec’s historical and cultural heritage. This episcopal complex is the one of the best preserved examples of Byzantine architecture in the Mediterranean. The complex consists of three-nave church, bapistry, sacristy, a bell tower, and an arcbishop’s palace. The basilica is famed for its mosaics. This feature alone made Porec known as the “Town of Mosaics”. The Episcopal Complex of the Euphrasian Basilica was inscribed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

Continue to either Pula or Venice airport to fly home.

If you want to make your holiday 'Extra Special' ask our specialists about the following:

Behind closed doors – lunch with Tatjana in her 13th century old palace home in Trogir

Itinerary at a glance

Private guided walking tour of Dubrovnik Old townMeet your expert local guide for a private guided walking tour of this historic city.

George Bernard Shaw was enchanted by this beautiful city, about which he said "those who seek paradise on Earth should come to Dubrovnik and see Dubrovnik", as well as, famously, describing it as "the pearl of the Adriatic". Dubrovnik truly is a stunning city with its amazing Old Town, which became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1979. A magnificent curtain of walls surrounds marble streets and baroque buildings that exude a pearly light in the Adriatic sun. The main pedestrian thoroughfare, Placa, is a mélange of cafés and shops with outstanding monuments at either end. Churches, monasteries and museums ornamented with finely carved stone recall an eventful history and a vibrant artistic tradition. Return to your hotel on your own or enjoy reminder of the day in Old town at your leisure.

Cultural Tour of Hvar IslandWalkg through Hvar town, home to the birth of organized tourism in Europe in 1868, the largest square in all of Dalmatia and the oldest public theatre in Europe, built in 1612. Your guided walking tour will include these and several other treasures in the town, including the 550 year-old Franciscan Monastery and the Benedictine Convent, where the nuns make fine lace from agave, which is one of four UNESCO heritages on Hvar. You will also visit the imposing Spanish Fortress. Take in the view from the top for a splendid panorama both of the town and the sparkling Pakleni Islands in front of the harbor.

Stari Grad and UNESCO Stari Grad PlainsThen you are off to the historic town of Stari Grad. Originally called Faros, it was once the capital of Hvar and is the oldest town in Croatia. Walk through the ancient pedestrian town, with a postcard scene around every corner, and head to the town's premier cultural attraction, the impressive Tvrdalj fortress, home of the legendary poet Petar Hektorovic, complete with fishpond and stone inscriptions in Croatian and Latin. The UNESCO theme continues as you travel east to the Stari Grad Plain (also known as Ager or Hora), an 80-hectare agricultural colony founded by the Ancient Greeks in 384 BC. In addition to being the largest cultivated field on the Mediterranean islands, agricultural life has continued uninterrupted since before the birth of Christ - a fascinating example of living heritage. Continuing east to the island's third town of Jelsa, which is set around a pretty harbor, your destination is the Dubokovic wine cellar, home to Ivo Dubokovic, Croatia's leading boutique winemaker, and an excellent chance to taste the quality wines and olive oils of the island. Before return to your hotel, enjoy late lunch in a private, old family olive grove with views of the UNESCO protected Stari Grad fields, the oldest continuously cultivated agricultural plain in the world!

Treasures of Split and TrogirMeet your local guide in the morning and depart on a private discovery tour of Split old town. Split is one of the Adriatic's most amazing seaports and also Croatia's second-largest city. Diocletian's Palace, as the ancient heart of Split, is one of the best-preserved Roman royal residences on the planet.

Afterwards continue with your guide to Trogir. Walk along Trogir's beautiful narrow streets and travel through time with the stories and legends of the past. This island oasis connected to the mainland with a bridge is filled with Greek, Roman and Venetian history. The entrance to St. Lawrence cathedral is decorated by the Romanesque portal of Radovan, the most significant of its kind in this part of Europe. Visit the Palace of Cipico, home to one of Trogir's most prominent families and the Tower of Kamerlengo, which served as the Venetian governor's palace. Discover the masterpieces of local sculptors and others who participated in creating the magnificent visual history of this charming town.

As an optional highlight of the day, enjoy our exclusive "behind the closed doors lunch" with our chef Tatjana in her family home palace from the 13th century.

Guided Walking Tour of the Episcopal complexMeet you expert local guide for a private walking tour of the Episcopal complex in Zadar. The area proposed for inscription in the World Heritage List is located in the centre of the historic nucleus of the town of Zadar and comprises the Roman forum with the remains of a temple, the Episcopal complex with the cathedral of St. Anastasia, the archbishop's palace, the church of St. Donatus and the Zmajevic seminary, the orthodox church of St. Elias, the Benedictine nunnery with the church of St. Mary and the Permanent Exhibition of Religious Art, and the Archaeological Museum.

Explore Zadar's permanent exhibition of religious art located in the monastery of St. Mary's church. This priceless treasure has been preserved by the Benedictine nuns throughout the years, as well as during the Patriotic Defense War, and some valuable exhibit items (lace, church fabrics embroidered with golden threads) were produced by the nuns´ hands. The particular preciousness, charm, and importance of the exhibited items is in the fact that they are, to a great extent, works of the locally known and unknown masters or are closely connected with Zadar and the Zadar region. The Permanent Exhibition of Ecclesiastic Art places Zadar among the great cultural capitals as such a collection of valuable and exquisite religious works of art all in one place can only be seen in the greatest European centers.

Rovinj old town is a masterpiece of urban art and architecture but its surroundings are nevertheless masterpieces of nature: the islands of Rovinj archipelago, Lim Bay, Punta Corrente Forrest, Palud bird reserve, Saline and Fantasy Quary. The spirit of some ancient times in the labyrinth made of stone, through the narrow streets of the old town, takes you deeply back to the mystic and mysterious Middle Ages.

Guided Walking Tour of Porec with Euphrasian BasilicaMeet your expert local guide for a walking tour of Porec's historical and cultural heritage. Porec's richness is measured by its historical heritage, deeply rooted in this area for thousands of years. The priceless city centre, located on a small peninsula submerged in the sea. Its foundations were put in place during the time of the rule of the Roman Empire. From then until now the symmetrical geometric layout of the streets has been preserved, the along the length of Decumanus and transverse Cardo Street. The most valuable cultural monument in Porec is Euphrasian Basilica. It was built on the remains of an earlier tri-naval basilica, in the first half of the 6th century, during the period of Bishop Euphrasius, whose name it bears. The complex of the Euphrasian Basilica represents a significant global monument acknowledged by UNESCO organisation in the year 1997.

Below you can see some of the wonderful places we recommend you stay on your journey.

Vestibul Palace

Hotel Monte Mulini

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